Switch



. 31, 1935. W E' LAGANKE 2,025,872

SWITCH Filed Jan. 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l m Mona/QW?? ATTOKNEYJ by the snap action of y particularly in the breaking of the circuit to recurring by the Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED Is'mrlss PATENT oFFlcE swrrcn Wilbur E. Laganke, East Cleveland, OhioY Application January 2, 1934, Serin No. 704,898 c claims. (c1. 20o-.116).

This invention relates to a. manually operated makey and break switch for use in electrical circuits with provision for automaticallyvbreaking the circuit through the switch in the event that an excessive iiow of current or an overload on the line occurs. l

It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch of the type referred to which is compact and simple in construction, efficient in op- .eration and inexpensive to manufacture. y The switch embodying the present invention may be used as a single or multiple pole switch and is designed particularly for use in connection with panel boards although such use is not limited thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch in which the circuit is made or broken a movable switch blade,

duce the arcing to a minimum.

Another` object of the invention resides in providing a blow-out coil for dissipating the arc ocopeningoi the switch and further to provide a path of low magnetic reluctance.

With the objects above indicated and other objects hereinafter explained in view the invention consists in the construction and'combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.V

lteferringtol the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a switch assembly embodyingthe present invention; f

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. V3 is a side elevational View o'f a twin switch unit showing details of the switch on the left showing the blade in closed'vposition` and the y switch on the right showing the blade in open position of construction, said view being taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view oi a unit housing with thev lower portion brokenaway to more clearly show the blow-out coil and taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the switch shown on the right side of Fig. 3 and taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4, illustrating the thermal element in operative position; J

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, but' illustrating the thermal element in inoperative position;

imFig. 7 is a vertical sectional view'on an enlarged scale .taken on line 'I I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 8 '8 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 5.

In the -drawings the switches, indicated generally by the numeral IIJ, are shown in pairs enclosed in a Bakelite" housing I I. The housing II is substantially rectangular in shape, being open at the near side, as viewed in Fig. 3, and

closed at the far side by walls I2. 'A vertical transversely extending partition I3 is formed integral with the housing II and divides the housing into twoseparate chambers .within which the Vswitches are disposed: The rear walls I2 are cut away in each chamber at the lower forward .portion thereof vto provide Vwhich bus bars I4 and I5 an opening through extend. The housing II is further provided with extensions I6 which have openings I1 in their rear sides by which the housing may be attached to a frame later to be described'. As the switches are identical in con- I struction vand operation, it is believed suiiicient r to describe in detail the construction and operamember 20 composed of a composition consisting of copper and carbon or other material which is adapted to engage the bus bar I4 when the switch is moved to its closed position. The switch blade I8 has its* sides extending upwardly to provide spaced arms Fig. 9, and has journaled therein a pin 22 about which one end of a. blade holder 23 is pivotally mounted. 'I'his blade holder is preferably made of Bakelite, or other suitable insulating material ,and has an opening in its opposite end for pivotally supporting the blade holder for movement about a pin 24. 'I'he pin 24 in turn has its rear end integrally secured in the housing I0, as indicated by 25. A manually operated handle member 26 is preferably made of Bakelite, or

4other similar material, and has embedded and secured therein a metal member 2l provided with a. transverse opening through'which the pin 24 extends.; The end of the blade holder 23 adjacent the pin 24 is cut away at 28 to receive a portion of the metal member 21, as shown in Fig. 8, and the connection is such as to provide for a slight lost motion between the handle member 26 and the blade holder 23, for a purpose to be later described. 'I'he metal member 21 has an integral extension 29 upon its lower side to which is connected one end of a spring 30, while the opposite end of the spring is connected in an opening 3| provided in the housing II, more clearly shown in Fig. 3. A washer 32 is mounted upon thelend of the pin- 24, while a cotter pin 33 extends through an opening in the end of the pin 24 to maintain the members 26 and 23 ln their proper position upon the pin.

The end of the blade holder 23 adjacent the pin 22 is slotted 'to receive the coils of a. spring 34 which is secured against displacement by means of a pin 35 having itsopposite ends se- 2 I, more clearly shown in I9. To the lower'portion 20 cured within the blade holder 23. The upper end of the spring 34 is disposed within an opening 36 provided in the blade holder 23, while the lower end extends through and is slidably disposed within an opening 31 provided in an extension 38 formedfintegral with theblade I8. This spring 34 is so arranged that it normally tends to move the switch blade I8 inwardly about the axis of the pin 22.

A thermally responsive member 39 of substantially inverted h-shaped formation is construsted of bi-metallic metal, so that upon the application of heat thereto there will be a more rapid flexing of the member on one side than on the opposite side. The upper arms of the thermally responsive member are connected by eyelet rivets 40 and 4I to one end of a conductor wire 42 and one of the spaced arms 2 I, respectively. The ends of the thermally responsive element are copper plated and riveted, in the manner described, to reduce contact resistance. The eyelet rivet 40 is mounted upon the pin 24, as' shown in Fig. 8, between the inner end of the blade holder 23 and the adjacent side of the rear wall I2, while the eyelet rivet 4I is mounted upon the pin 22, as

shown in Fig. 9, these rivet connections permit-l ting pivotal movement about the axes of the rivets.r The depending leg 43 of the thermally responsive member 39 is disengageably connected to the free end of the extension I9 on the switch blade' I8 in such a. manner as to become disengaged therefrom upon the application of heat beyond `a predetermined amount. This connection preferably consists of a detent 44 insulated from the extension I9, but securely mounted thereon by means of a threaded connection 45. The detent is preferably square, as shown in Fig. 5, having a rear abutment 46 with which the lower end 43 of the thermally responsive member 39 engages. Thesopposite end of the detent 44 is slightly tapered `so as to permit the depending arm 43 to pass over the detent into its inner engaging position. With the interengagement between the depending arm-43 of the thermally responsive member and the detent 44 on the extension I9, the switch arm I8 and the blade holder 23 are secured against relative movement about the axis of the pin 22 and against the resistance of the spring 34, thus causing the switch blade I8 and the blade holder 23 to be moved as' a single unit.

Should the thermally responsive member 39 be subjected to heat beyond a predetermined amount suicient to cause it to become disengaged from the detent 44, the tension of the spring 34 will immediately cause the switch blade I8 to be moved about the axis of` the pin 22 and simultaneously moving another member 20 out of engagement with the bus bar I4, thus breaking the circuit. To reestablish the connection be- /tween the depending arm/,43 and the detent 44,

it is only necessary to move the switch arm I8 to its maximum open position, in which case the the depending arm 43 will be moved behind the detent 44 and into engagement with the abutting shoulder 46.

It is, of course, desirable that some means be provided to indicate when the switch has been automatically opened, by reason of thevapplication ofv Aexcessive heat to theY thermally responsive member, or by an overload upon the line, and, in

the present instance, a visual indicating means is preferably employed. This consists of a resilient member in the form of a spring 41 having a looped portion 48 substantially midway between lts ends and disposed within a recess 49 in one of the faces of the member 21, clearly shown in Fig. 8. The

.looped portion 48 also encircles the pin 24 and has one end 50 abutting against a shoulder upon the under portion of the handle 26. The opposite end extends forwardly beyond the handle portion 26 and is looped back upon itself to provide an extension 5I the free end extending upwardly and being provided with an indicator 52 in the form of an enlarged ilattened head, preferably painted red. This oiset portion 5I normally engages a Bakelite member 53 secured between extensions 54 provided on the arms 2 I. When the switch blade I8 and blade holder 23 are secured against independent relative movement by means 15 of the depending leg 43 and the detent 44, the indicator 52 is held in invisible position by reason of the fact that the extension 5I is in engagement with the Bakelite member 53, thus indicating that the switch isv in operating condi- 20 tion. As soon as the leg 43 is disengaged from the detent 44, however, thus causing the switch arm I8 to be moved about the axis of the pin 22, the Bakelite member 53 is moved out of engagement withA the extended portion 5I and permits the indicator 52 to pass upwardly out of the housing II, as shown in Fig. 6. The indicator 52, therefore, is quickly detected' and conveys the fact that the switch has been automatically opened and must be reset before the switch can 3Q again be in operating condition. It will be noted that when the switch is moved to its maximum open position to reset the connection between the arm 43 and the detent 44, that the Bakelite member 53 will again engage the extension 5I 35 and maintain the indicator 52 within the housing and out'of sight.

'I'he construction of the switch provides for a snap action in the making and breaking of the g engagement between the switch blade and the bus 4o bar, b ut naturally the snap action is much more desirable in the breaking of the circuit in order to eliminate to as great an extent as possible any excessive amount of arcing. This snap action is obtained by reason of the lost motion connection 45 'between thefhandle 26 and the blade holder 23.

With theswitch in closed position, as shown in the left-hand portion of Fig. 3, the handle 26 may be moved towards the left to open the switch.

During this movement the handle 26 moves to 50 the position indicated in dotted lines by 55 before there is any movement whatsoever of the switch blade I8 and blade holder 23. As soon as the handle 26 has been moved -to the limit of the .lost motion movement, the extension 29 passes 55 beyond the plane, indicated by the line 56, passingthrough the l"axis ofthe pin 24 and the con-A nection 3I in the housing with the result that the compression of the spring exerts a force against the' extension 29 and causes the switch arm I8 to move quickly out of engagement with the bus bar I4. The same operation occurs Ain moving the switch blade I8 to its closed position. The handle member 26 is moved towardsthe right to the end of the lost motion movement provided and, upon further movement of the handle 26, the extension 29 passes beyond the plane 56 and the spring exerts a force against the extension 29 to cause the switch blade I8 to be quickly moved into en- 7 gagement with the bus bar I 4. f

In the lower portion of the housing a blow-out coil 51 is mounted upon an iron core 58. This blow-out coil consists 4of, ,approximately eight turns in two layers of No. 9 cotton covered enamel wire. This is wound'on the steel core which is 75 v 2,025,872 insulated from the wire for approximately 2300 volts. This core has laminated metal sides 59 extending forwardly upon opposite sides in the direction of the bus bar I4 and which are disl posed upon opposite.A sides of the switch blade I8.

coil connects with a terminal 6I secured upon the extension I6 of the housing II. 'I'he terminal 6I is connected to one side of the main line, while the bus bar I4 is connected with the opposite side of the main line so that when the switch is in closed position the current will pass from the bus bar I4 through the switch arm I8, through the thermally responsive member 39 to the conductor 42, through the lcoil 51 and outwardly through the opposite end of the coil to the terminal 6I. The circuit maybe closed and, opened by the manual operation of the handle 26 in the manner previously .described and, in theevent that an excessive amount of current passes through the thermally responsive member 39 so as to heato the same beyond a predetermined amount, the lower end 43 of the member will bek moved out of engagement with the detent 44, thus causing the switch blade I8` to be moved out of engagement with the bus bar I4 due to the tension of the spring 34` with which the switch arm I8 is connected.

Referring particularly to. Figs. 1 and 2, the

switches I0 are assembled in pairs within the housing II and there is'illustrated in Fig. 1 three of these housings positionedin abutting relation. These switches are all single pole switches, but may be operated as double pole switches by providing a connecting means pivotally connected to adjacent pairs of handle members 26 so as to be operated in unison. y

The bus bars I4 and I5 extend longitudinally of the switch housings II in spaced relation and the housings I I are adapted to fit over the bus bars by reason of the .openings provided therein.

. A metal base 83 is provided upon which the heusings II are supported and consists of strap iron bent in substantially Z,shape, as shown in Fig. 2 with inwardly extending 'anges 64 provided at one level and inwardly extending flanges provided at a higher level. These strap iron mem,-` bers 63 are maintained in assembled relation by metal cross members 66 welded or otherwise secured to the side members 63. The upper in-` wardly extending flanges 65 engage with the under surfaces 61 of the housings II to support the.

, lower inwardly extending flanges 84. Angles 10 of Bakelite or other suitable insulating material are positioned at the outer edges of the insulating block 69 with their upright legs extending inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. The horizontal ilanges of the angles and the insulating block 89 Aare secured to the inwardly extending flanges 64 by means of bolts and thumb screws 1I. These angles prevent the gutter wires from coming into contact with the live parts of the panel.

The bus bars I4 and I5, as shown in Fig. 2, are supported at one end upon the insulating block 69 by severing the lowerportions of the bus bars and bending the severed portions inwardly to provide flanges 12. These flanges are securedl to the insulating block 69 by bolts also securing terminals 13 which are adapted to be connected to two 220 volt line.connections. Between each of the housings II and upon the outer side of the 6 end housing, insulating panels 14 are provided and are secured to the respective housings by means of screws 15 to prevent any possibility of electrical leakage between the respective switches. The opposite end of the frame 63 has an inl0 s'ilating block 'I6 secured to the upper inwardly extending flanges 61 in a manner identical with that described in connection with the insulating block B9. Also, a pair of lBakelite angles 11, or

'other suitable insulating material, are secured to l5 the insulating bar 16, but the upstanding legs are positioned adjacent the outer edges of the frame, for a purpose, however, identical to that for which the angles 10 are provided; Supported upon the insulating bar 16 is a common bus bar 18 secured 20 thereto by means of bolts and having anoutlet` terminal 19 boltedor otherwise secured at 80 to the bus bar, as shown in Fig. 1. Disposed on the opposite sides of the terminal 19 are plurality of terminals 8l, the number on each side of the 25 terminal 19 corresponding to the number of the switches upon that side of the housing II. In the present instance three switches are illustrated, consequently there are three terminals 8 I. These terminals 8l are adapted to be electrically 30A connected with the terminals 6I upon the opposite ends of the switch housings I I, so as to electrically connect each switch with the output terminal 19. The entire switch assembly is housed within a metal cabinet 82 open at its front. The outward- 35 IyeXtending anges83 of the frame 63 are provided withslotted openings 84 to receive the screw threaded ends of bolts 85 secured in the bottom of the enclosure 82. Threaded washers 86 are mounted upon the'screw threaded ends of the 40 bolts 85 and directly engage and support the under surface of the flanges 8'3. These screw threaded washers 86 may be adjusted axially of the bolts so as to raise or lower the switch frame 63 to anydesired position.v When once adjusted 45 they are secured against accidental displacement by means of nuts 81. The slotted openings 84 permit transverse` adjustment of the switch frame 63, thus providing a universal adjustment to properly position the swi'ch -within` the enclosure 50 82.

vportion 89 having a plurality o f openings 90 through which theY extended portions of the handle member 26 extend. The outer corners of 55 the cover plate 88a are provided with openings and connected by means of bolts 9| with the upper portion of thc enclosure 82. Metal card holders 92 are riveted or otherwise secured to the cover member- 88 and are disposed between pairs of 60 switches and adapted to receive and hold cards uponwhich may be stamped the numbers or names of the associated circuits.

A cover plate of appropriate character may be attached to the top of the cover plate 88A to en- 65 clcse' the handle members 26, if desired.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited thereto inasmuch as changes and modifications vmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus descrlbed'my invention, I claim:

1. In a switch of the character referred to, the combination of a housing, a member pivotally 4- aoaas'ra supported in said housing, a contact blade pivotally supported in said housing and movable relative to said member, athermally responsive member operatively connected to said member and said 5 contact blade for limiting the relative movement therebetween in one direction and releasable when the thermally responsive member is heated to a predetermined degree, means for moving said contact blade relative to saidmember upon the release of said thermally responsive member, an indicator, means for operating said indicator upon movement of said contact blade relative to said member 'under the action of the first mentionedvmeans, a handle pivotally supported in said 'housing and operatively connected to said member by a lost motion connection, and resilient means operatively connected to said handle and said housing for effecting continued movement of said handle after the same `has been moved a predetermined amount.

2. In a switch of the character referred to, the

`combination of a housing, a member pivotally` supported 'in said housing, a contact blade pivotally supported in said housing and movable relativeto said member, a spring for continuously urging said contact blade in one direction relative to said member, a thermally responsive member operatively connected to said member and said contact blade for limiting the relative movement therebetween under the action of said spring and releasable when the thermally responsive member is heated to a predetermined degree, a normally invisible indicator, means for moving said indicator into a visible position upon movement of said contact blade relative to said member under the action of said spring, a handle pivotally supported in said housing and operatively connected to said member by a lost motion connection, and

, a second spring operatively connected to said 4o housing and said handle for eiecting continued movement of said handle after the same has been moved a predetermined amount.

3. In a switch of the character referred to, the

combinationv of a housing, a blade holder pivot- 5 ally supported in said housing, a contact blade pivotally supported by said blade holder, a spring continuously urging said contact blade in one ydirection about its pivotal connection with said blade holder, a thermally responsive member operatively connected I`to said blade holder and said contact blade for" limiting the relative movement therebetween under the actionof said spring and 'releasable when the thermally responsive member is heatedto a predetermined degree, an indicator, means for operating said indicator upon movement of said contact blade relative to said blade holder under the action of, said spring, a

l handle pivotally supported in said housing and operatively connected to said blade holder by a lost motion connection, and a second spring operatively connected to said housing and vsaid handle for eiecting continued movement of said handle after the same has been moved a predetermined amount.l

35 4. In a switch ofthe character referred to, the

a combination of a housing, a blade holder pivot- `ally supported in said housing, a contactblade pivotally supported by said blade holder, a thermally responsive member carried by said blade holder and projecting adjacent said `contact blade, means forming'an effective connection between said thermally responsive member and said contact blade releasable when said thermally responsive member becomes heated to a predetermined degree, means for moving said contact blade about its pivotal connection with 5 said blade holder when said thermally responsive member becomes disengaged, an indicator, means -for operating said indicator upon movement of said contact blade relative to said blade holder when said thermally responsive member becomes 10 disengaged, a handle pivotally supported in said housing andoperatively connected to said blade holder by a lost motion connection, and resilient means operatively connected to said handle and said housing for effecting continued movement of 15 said handle after the same has been moved a predetermined amount.

5. In a switch of the character referred to, the combination of a housing, a blade holder pivotally supported in said housing, a contact blade 20 pivotally supported by-said blade holder, a spring operatively connected to said blade holder and said contact blade for continuously urging said contact blade in one direction about its pivotal connection with said blade holder, a thermally 25 responsive member supported by said blade holder, means for connecting said thermally responsive member with said contact blade releasable when said thermally responsive member becomes heated to a predetermined degree, a normally 30' invisible indicator, means for moving said indicator into a visible position upon movement of said contact blade relative to saidpblade holder under the action of lsaid spring, a handle pivotally supported'in said housing coaxial with said 35 blade holder and operatively connected thereto byva lost motion connection, and resilient means operatively connected to said housing and said handle for effecting continued movement of said handle after the same has been moved a pre- 40 determined amount.

6. In a switch of the character referred to, the combination of a housing, a blade holder pivotally supported in said housing, a contact blade pivotally supported--by said blade holder, a spring 45 operatively connected to said blade holder and said lcontact blade for continuously urging said contact blade in one direction about its pivotal connection with said blade holder, a thermally responsive member supported by said blade hold- 50 er, means forconnecting said thermally responsive member with said contact blade releasable I when said Ithermally responsive member becomes heated to a predetermined degree, a normally invisible indicator, means for moving said indicator 55 into a visible position upon movement of said contact blade relative to said blade holder under the action of said spring, a handle pivotally supported in said housing coaxial with said blade holder and operatively connected thereto by a 60 lost motion connection, and a second spring operatively connected to said housing and said 4handle so that the center line thereof is moved -said housing after which continuedmovement of' the handle is effectedunder the action of said spring.

' WILBUR. E. LAGANKE, 70 

